Lowest ever recorded figures for victims of Antipersonnel mines

There has been a significant decrease in the number of people that have been injured, maimed or killed by antipersonnel mines in 2013, resulting in the lowest ever figures reported by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) since records began. In its 2014 report, prepared by the Landmine Monitor, ICBL recorded 3.308 deaths or injuries caused by mines or Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs), almost a quarter less than the 4.325 recorded in the previous year, despite the recent multiplication of conflicts in some countries in the Middle-East.

In 2013, mines have killed an average of nine people per day, compared to twenty-five per day in 1999, the same year in which the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (also known as the Ottawa Treaty) was established. In August 2014, Oman became the latest country to sign the treaty, bringing the total number of participating nations to 163.

"Among the 35 countries that are still outside the convention, almost all of them respect the fundamental rules of the Convention, which demonstrates the quasi-universal acceptance of the mine ban" said Megan Burke, who led the work on the victims section for the 2014 report released by the Landmine Monitor.

"Too many people still lose their lives or their limbs due to mines, but the number of new victims has reached the lowest level ever recorded. This is probably the best indicator of the Mine Ban Treaty's success, but we must not forget that hundreds of thousands of landmine survivors are still waiting for their needs to be fulfilled and for their rights to be respected", she added.

According to the report, the use of antipersonnel mines by the military has been confirmed in Syria and Burma over the past year, though the the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention has not been ratified in these two nations. In contrast, it has been alleged that mines are being used in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between the national army and the pro-Russian rebels, despite the fact that the presence of explosive devices could not be confirmed by observers from the ICBL.

Armed insurgent groups have used antipersonnel mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during conflicts that have killed or injured civilians in Afghanistan, Colombia, Libya, Burma, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen, causing significant numbers of fatalities. Contrary to the overall trend, casualties caused by mines or IEDs in Syria have more than tripled over the past year.

According to the report, the use of antipersonnel mines by the military has been confirmed in Syria and Burma over the past year, though the the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention has not been ratified in these two nations. In contrast, it has been alleged that mines are being used in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between the national army and the pro-Russian rebels, despite the fact that the presence of explosive devices could not be confirmed by observers from the ICBL.

Armed insurgent groups have used antipersonnel mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during conflicts that have killed or injured civilians in Afghanistan, Colombia, Libya, Burma, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen, causing significant numbers of fatalities. Contrary to the overall trend, casualties caused by mines or IEDs in Syria have more than tripled over the past year.

According to the report, the use of antipersonnel mines by the military has been confirmed in Syria and Burma over the past year, though the the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention has not been ratified in these two nations. In contrast, it has been alleged that mines are being used in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between the national army and the pro-Russian rebels, despite the fact that the presence of explosive devices could not be confirmed by observers from the ICBL.

Armed insurgent groups have used antipersonnel mines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during conflicts that have killed or injured civilians in Afghanistan, Colombia, Libya, Burma, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen, causing significant numbers of fatalities. Contrary to the overall trend, casualties caused by mines or IEDs in Syria have more than tripled over the past year.